Cataclysm Stat Revamps—GC Nerfs EVERYTHING!

So I'm going to go through and list some of the crazy changes that are being made to itemization here. I'll be elaborating more on this later, but here's the basic rundown:

Edit: Because there seems to be some confusion: These changes are proposed changes to come with the next WoW expansion, called Cataclysm. These are still a long way off. When they come, they will also come with a complete revamp of existing gear, as well as a total reconstruction not just of the quests that lead you through the original zones, but of the zones THEMSELVES. Thousand Needles is being flooded. The Barrens is being split into two zones. Desolace is green and growing. Azshara is a lowbie leveling zone. Zones are being condensed so you spend fewer levels in each one. So have no fear. Everything is changing, but it's all changing TOGETHER. The whole game is getting redesigned for the new expansion—check out all the details on how in our Recap!

But in the meantime, let's take a look at the stat changes coming in the expansion!

MP5 = GONE! Replaced with spirit, which will now be mana regen only—and non healers will have ZERO need for it.Spell Power = GONE! Replaced with Intellect, which now grants mana AND spell power.Attack Power = GONE! Agility now gives 2 ap for rogues, hunters, shamans, and druids!Defense = GONE! Tanks now receive ALL their anti-crit from talents!Armor Penetration = GONE! Replaced with "Masteries" through the talent trees!Block Value = GONE! Blocks will now be a REAL mitigation stat, preventing a % of incoming damage!Soul Shards = GONE! Will be replaced with a functionality more like DK runes, where you can use a "Soul Burn" spell once per shard per battle—and Soul Burn will increase the effectiveness of your NEXT spell a la Amplify Curse. Fears might become Instant, Searing Pains might have free crits, Death Coils might have increased Horrify duration, etc.Hunter Mana = GONE! Will be replaced with "Focus", which is similar to rogue energy, but regens faster when you use Steady Shot.Hunter Ammo = GONE! Replaced with an item, not a consumable!

Comments

Comment by Haxzor

Comment by totemmunkey

i like these changes. There was bound to be a major overhaul sooner or later. The stat numbers just kept increasing at ridiculous rates.

Comment by Uglybunny

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:51:42 -0500

Omgawsh I saw the words "warlock" and "DK" in the same sentence and I'm not crying <3 <3 Sexy soul shard changes.

(... I get pwned by DK's on my 80 warlock)

Comment by pezz

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:51:58 -0500

So they'll have to split hunter and shaman gear or give hunters a bunch of spell power coefficients.

Edit:

The stat numbers just kept increasing at ridiculous rates.

This change is only going to make the amount of Int/Agi/Spi etc. on gear even more ridiculous. Imagine +hit spell power gear, with all the points in spirit, spell power, mp5 (although I don't think mp5 and hit ever exist on the same piece of gear) all crammed into intellect, AND imagine that gear requiring level 85.

Comment by Haxzor

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:53:44 -0500

Hunters and Enhancement Shamans won't have to worry about intellect anymore

Comment by Deepthought

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:54:19 -0500

So they'll have to split hunter and shaman gear or give hunters a bunch of spell power coefficients.

Or they could just make something like a weaker Careful Aim aquired at an early level for all Hunters.

Comment by Nukedoom

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:54:46 -0500

You've changed things...forever.

In other news, the hunter mana thing always bothered me. This new "focus" is more in tune with my psyche.

Comment by Malgayne

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:55:47 -0500

Hunters are no longer using Intellect for anything, and Spell Power now stems from Intellect. GC was very clear that Enhancement Shamans will no longer be using Intellect gear either.

Comment by Uglybunny

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:56:18 -0500

Change is good....

Edit: UBS, meant to be below Nuke :P

Comment by pezz

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:56:38 -0500

Oh right, I have been told. Man, everyone is going to be stealing rogue gear now.

Edit: To avoid basically double posting, Carrot: I'm sure all the pre-existing +agi and +int mail gear will be changed to +a whole bunch more agi

Comment by Kristopher

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:57:15 -0500

I do so hope that I don't have to replace my gear too much when these changes take place...Sure, its quite a ways down the road, but I'm hitting 80 soon.

Comment by RetardedCat

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:57:54 -0500

SO, this might explain the old 1-60 quest item revamping? now we wont get spirit agility and intellect in a plate chestpiece

Comment by blackiceadept

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:59:44 -0500

Almost all of these are "about damn time" changes. Which is "scx3y"! (lolcaptcha)

Comment by Valux

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:00:34 -0500

Frickin nuts... everyone is going to have to re-learn their gearing priorities, and I forsee a lot of arguments come time to hand out loot when this starts. Don't get me wrong, I'm for this change and think in the end it will be great, but when it first starts, its definately gonna be interesting.

Comment by bloodpaly

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:04:40 -0500

Now my paladin will love int even more i guess :)

Comment by Uglybunny

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:04:52 -0500

Frickin nuts... everyone is going to have to re-learn their gearing priorities, and I forsee a lot of arguments come time to hand out loot when this starts. Don't get me wrong, I'm for this change and think in the end it will be great, but when it first starts, its definately gonna be interesting.

About time, I think the theory crafters are getting bored ^-^;

Even though I don't own a hunter, I love the new focus thing rather than mana. It's unique, it's new, and their pets already use it so there's a precedent... sorta.

Comment by abrown

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:06:04 -0500

crap. so if ap is gone, but they say that agillity gives 2 ap per, theres still ap. does that mean theres no AP increase stat on gear anymore, but its still a stat?and say i have this little gem here. what happens to the 188 atk pwr? does the whole item get redone statwise? will the 188 go to 94 agillity on top of the 137? sounds kinda dumb to me. i dont really like these nerfs..... let the QQ begin!

Comment by pezz

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:11:37 -0500

i dont really like these nerfs..... let the QQ begin!

They aren't nerfs though. AP was, in a way, a trash stat for everyone. Anyone who needed AP could get the same amount per item point from Agility or Strength, but pure AP was not affected by % increases in stats (such as BoK), so it was always worse than whatever your class's AP core stat was.

I'm sure your item will just have a lot more agility put onto it.

One thing that comes to mind though, how much does anyone reckon they'll nerf the avoidance/mitigation contributions from Agility/Strength because of this? If all the AP on rogue PvP gear turns into agility, their dodge chance would fly up at the current rates.

Comment by alpha5099

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:16:10 -0500

How will Enh shamans work without Int? I like my Int!

Comment by swert56

on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:17:51 -0500

Anyone else see the thing about instant fears for locks? or am i just really stoned?